- Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service (CNS)
Pope Francis thanked yesterday from the Gemelli hospital in Rome all the people who are praying for his recovery. The Pope's "clinical condition is stable, and the therapeutic diagnostic course prescribed by the medical staff continues," reported the Vatican's evening bulletin of February 16.
In the morning, the Pope received Communion and watched the Mass on television. He spent the afternoon reading and resting.
Following his doctor's orders for absolute rest, Pope Francis, 88, sent a brief text that was published on February 16 instead of the speech he usually gives to visitors who gather with him to pray the Angelus on Sundays at noon.
Hope that the Pope would come out
Although the Pope's text was not read to the people in St. Peter's Square, hundreds had gathered there just in case. Vatican News reported that at least 50 people had also gathered outside the Gemelli hospital, hoping that the Pope would lead the Angelus from there or at least come to the window to wave.
Pope Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14, after more than a week of suffering from bronchitis and difficulty breathing. He was diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection.
"I still need treatment for my bronchitis."
In his Angelus message, the Pope apologized to those attending the Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture, who were expecting an audience with him on February 15 and a Mass with him on February 16. Instead, the Mass was celebrated by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, who read the homily the Pope had prepared for the occasion.
"I would have liked to be among you, but, as you know, I am in Gemelli hospital because I still need treatment for my bronchitis," the Pope wrote in his Angelus message.
"Thank you for the affection, prayer and closeness with which you are accompanying me in these days," his message said, "And I want to thank the doctors and health personnel of this hospital for their care: they do such a valuable and tiring job, let us support them with prayer!".
Praying for peace
Pope Francis, as he usually does in his Angelus address, also asked people to pray for peace and specifically mentioned "Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and the entire Middle East, Myanmar, Kivu (in Congo) and Sudan."
Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, told reporters that the pope had a second night's rest in the hospital and woke up, had breakfast and was reading newspapers.
How long the Pope will stay at the Gemelli will depend on how he reacts to the treatment, Bruni had said a day earlier.
